What is a Command Sergeant Major?

A Command Sergeant Major is the senior enlisted member of his unit and serves as a special advisor to the commanding officer of a battalion-sized unit of 300 to 1,000 soldiers. The Command Sergeant Major cares for his unit's battle flag, and is the senior representative of the enlisted soldiers and non-comissioned officers serving under him to officers at the battalion and brigade level.

Command Sergeant Major is the 12th rank in the United States Army, ranking
above Sergeant Major and directly below Sergeant Major of the Army.
A command sergeant major is a Noncommissioned Officer at DoD paygrade E-9, with a starting monthly pay of $4634.70.

How do you become a Command Sergeant Major?

A Command Sergeant Major is most often promoted from Sergeant Major (SGM), although promotion from lower paygrades may occur with sufficient display of leadership and experience.

What is the proper way to address a Command Sergeant Major?

The correct way to address a Command Sergeant Major named Mr. Jones is
"Command Sergeant Major Jones", or written as CSM Jones.
In formal situations, a Command Sergeant Major should always be addressed by their full rank.

How much does a Command Sergeant Major earn?

Basic pay for an entry-level Command Sergeant Major with ten years of experience is $4,634.70 per month. A Command Sergeant Major receives an automatic raise to their basic pay every one to two years.

Basic pay is only a small percentage of a Command Sergeant Major's final compensation package. In addition to a monthly basic pay salary,
a Army Command Sergeant Major may be eligible for multiple types of allowances and bonus pay including housing allowance, retirement benefits, personal money allowance, clothing allowance, and more.